LGBTQ+ Athlete Advocates Corporate Pride

volleyball and took up mountain biking and paddle boarding. In what was kind of serendipitous or foreshadowing if you will, through open gyms I was invited to play a NAGVA (North America Gay Volleyball Association) tournament in San Jose without knowing what NAGVA stood for. I competed as one of the many straight allies.”

DiCicco continued, “Competing in gay volleyball tournaments as an ‘ally’ helped me to gain my first and firsthand gay positive experience where being gay is not a perversion, and there exists a support system. At the same time, I learned that PG&E has a strong and one of the oldest corporate LGBTQ+ resource groups called the PrideNetwork. For a couple of years, I cautiously joined PrideNetwork under the guise of an ‘ally.’ Over time, I met many highly visible and successful out and proud coworkers and leaders both at PG&E and other major companies. And through all the nonjudgmental interactions, community work, and positive support, I gained great confidence and pride about being gay and realized it was time. I came out. I was inspired, energized, hugged, and accepted.”

Soon after he came out, DiCicco became a PrideNetwork Board Member where he was a regional lead for San Jose and Sacramento educating members on LGBTQ+ history, accomplishments, pride, as well as outreach, community building, and engagement.

DiCicco said he wanted to do more for the LGBTQ+ community. “A couple of years ago, I became the Director of Pride Celebrations where my team led a corporate-wide effort to increase LGBTQ+ community visibility, direction, and support. Every Pride celebration we attend and sponsor advocates for LGBTQ+ voices and equality. Since my company serves the people, it makes sense that our philanthropic philosophies, goals, and resources are interwoven into the community. And I am proud to carry that torch on behalf of the PrideNetwork.”

Last year, 2022, for the first time since 2019 (pre-pandemic), DiCicco and his PrideNetwork team attended and advocated, supported and sponsored, mingled and marched in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, and Fresno Pride celebrations decked out proudly in all colors of the rainbow. This year, 2023, look for DiCicco and his team, especially during June Pride Month, out in full force.

John Chen, a UCLA alumnus and an avid sports fan, has competed as well as coached tennis, volleyball, softball, and football teams.